Hi guys! I am back, and I bring you a new chapter! For any of you who may be confused as to why Retsu's opponent had another staff, it was actually a typo on my part in the beginning. By the time I caught it though, it was already posted. Then, I thought it over, and came up with an idea on how it could work. So pay attention to why. I think this arc is drawing to a close. Not immediately, but there will probably only be 1 or 2 more chapters in it (not including this one). Then, the story will really start to heat up! Just a heads up.

Thank you to all of you who reviewed! As all you authors and authoresses out there know, reviews are great motivation for a writer, and it really brightens my day to get them!

dotYui: You always review so fast! It's really great! I love half days, but we barely have them anymore in my school. We used to have so many in elementary school! What happened? Whaaa! Moving on, I'm glad you liked the chapter. I imagine that it would be weird to have two other personalities (not that I have any experience) in your head, and I think I'd get a headache too. I get headaches with only my own thoughts!

Fuuki Inchou Ange: The more you read, the more you love it? Cool! You'll just have to wait and see about whether or not Yume's going to be a guardian. It'll come soon though. I never really thought about it, but yeah, I guess she and Mukuro are a little similar. All of my characters are original (I hope), so I didn't really base them off of anyone in particular.

Reborn22: Suspenseful endings for chapters are always my favorites to write. They're my specialty! And I use them a lot in this story. The anime and manga use a lot of suspense too, in my defense. If you have the time, I'd check back here every other day as far as updates go. I try to update every other day, but I can't make any promises.

monochromez: I'm happy that you like the characters introductions. It seems that the split personality is very popular with everyone who reviewed! I planned Kurohana to be a very interesting person, so I'm glad that you think she is. Yume's going to be interesting too, but in a different way. I'm being a bit vague with stuff like the "he" because, well, because I haven't fully thought up who "he" is going to be. I have an idea about that part of the plot and all, but the actual characters are a bit hazy. I'll try and bring the puppy in somehow, as I like it too!

I hope none of you got confused with the mind stuff last chapter. If you don't pay close attention this chapter, you might get lost. It's kind of complicated. I tried to make it as easy to understand as I could, but here's a reminder:

This = Kurohana's thoughts/words

This = Yume's thoughts/words

Also, for the recap at the beginning,

This = Kurohana's thought

Hope you get it! Enjoy!


Our Sky

Chapter 11: Demon 5: I Want

Last time:

"I'm not going to be the boss!" the teen denied fervently.

If you don't duck now, you're not gonna have to worry about what you're going to be! Kurohana exclaimed. He turned, and saw his opponent charging at him, staff raised. Retsu did as he was told, and ducked out of the way.

"Playtime," she said, brandishing her weapon. "Is over. I've let you say your odd last words. Now, it's time for you to die."

~OS~

After the initial shock of the attack, there was only one thought in Retsu's head that he could actually make sense of. He glanced down at the silver staff still in his grip, then back up at the girl in front of him, who was holding up an almost identical one, except it was wooden.

How'd she get another staff? Yume asked, voicing his thought.

This is a dojo, Kurohana replied. I'm sure they have loads of extra weapons lying around. Either way, all that matters is that she did get another one somehow, and now the moron has to fight against it. Be careful, boss. Even in his panicked state, he caught the derisive edge in her voice at the mention of "boss."

"I thought Yume told you to be nice."

Do I look like the kind of person who cares?

"I can't exactly see you now," he pointed out. Kurohana sighed, while Yume giggled.

He got you there.

I hate both of you.

Retsu let an involuntary smile appear on his face. Their childish bickering was actually calming him down. It reminded him of Kazuki and Jun. He spared a glance at his friends, and was relieved to see the blonde sitting up. He was rubbing his stomach, and didn't look like he was in any condition to be fighting anyone, but at least the soccer player was alright. Jun was still unconscious, lying on the floor beside his friend, but he too looked like he'd live to see another day. The white haired boy let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding.

Pay attention, dammit! Kurohana shouted. The teen looked up, and saw the wooden staff coming down on him, about to hit his collar bone. He rolled out of the way just in time, and the weapon hit the ground harmlessly with a dull thud. He just barely managed to avoid the next swing, but was too late to dodge the fist that hit his face. He literally flew into the opposite wall, shocked by the force of the blow.

Retsu hit his head against the wall upon impact, and slid to the floor, dazed. His vision swam dangerously before returning to normal. He tried to move, but fell back with a yelp at the pain in his back. He searched the wall behind him, and gaped at the splintering crack that ran up one of the panels of wood. The broken wood had left a long gash along his back. It wasn't deep, but it still hurt like hell. The boy could only hope he hadn't gotten any splinters, but with his luck lately, there wasn't a high chance of that happening.

You're so useless! the red eyed girl in his head practically screeched, unknowingly quoting Reborn. Can't you fight back?

"I have no idea what I'm doing, in case you hadn't noticed," he snapped. She was silent for a moment.

Then listen to what I tell you to do, she ordered.

"Huh?"

I'll tell you how to fight, she explained. All you have to do it follow my instructions.

"What if I can't?" he asked. Kurohana snorted.

Then you're dead, aren't you? She responded bluntly. This plan will only work if you do exactly what I tell you, exactly when I tell you. I don't want to hear all that "I can't" bullshit. You ever think that again, and I'll kick your ass. Understand?

He gulped. "Perfectly."

Good. There was a note of approval in her voice, but it disappeared with her next words. Don't move.

He felt a hand grab his hair, but ignored the urge to fight back. He was yanked into a sitting position, and felt the wood staff slide past his neck. He gritted his teeth.

"Is this really all the Vongola have to offer?" he heard his attacker say monotonously. "None of you are even worth my time. Especially you. I don't understand why he was so dead set on killing all the heirs. There isn't a single one of you who could actually pose a threat."

Swing the staff at her legs, Kurohana ordered. He complied, and was rewarded with a loud cracking sound. The girl barely flinched, only narrowed her glazed eyes.

"Perhaps you wish to hurry along your death?" she suggested menacingly, but he wasn't even listening. Retsu was preoccupied with Kurohana's directions.

Try to hit her chin with the butt of the staff. He did as he was told, but she simply stepped back, letting go of his hair in the process. Good. Now you're free. Here comes the tricky part. You have to find a way to destroy your staff.

"Wha? But-"

You said you'd listen to me, she reminded him. When he didn't reply, she took it as a sign to continue. There's gotta be something we can use! I think our only option is to burn it. See any fires around here?

"Why are we destroying it in the first place?" Retsu asked, confused. Reborn, who'd been all but forgotten about, smirked slightly. His hat covered his eyes, but it was easy to see that he was pleased. He reached for Leon.

Retsu's opponent, on the other hand, had stiffened when she heard the question.

Because, nimrod, Retsu had noticed that the girl hadn't used his actual name the entire time she'd been talking. It was always mocking names, or insults. That's what's causing this. Don't you see anything weird about it?

He looked at the weapon, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Don't even try, Retsu, Yume sighed. Normal people can't see what's wrong with it. We didn't.

"Then why does Kurohana know now?"

She doesn't, was Yume's blunt answer. She's guessing.

Don't you have that "blood of Vongola" or whatever? Kurohana asked irritably. Can't you see weird stuff like that?

Retsu was about to respond with a no, but he paused. Was that what had happened earlier?

"It's good that you've finally figured it out, even if you did need some help," Reborn said from behind him. The teen whirled, and saw his tutor smiling at him. That was never a good sign.

"Figured out what?" Retsu asked cautiously.

"When you're hit with a dying will bullet, the external limiters in your body are removed," the baby explained, ignoring the question. "You're senses get better, and you become stronger. Also, while it's not as strong as a rebuke bullet would be, your heightened senses tap into your Vongola blood, and your hyper intuition, allowing you to see things that others can't."

"Can you repeat that?" the boy asked.

"No," was Reborn's immediate response. "As a boss, you need to be able to memorize things in a matter of seconds."

"That makes no sense!"

"It doesn't have to. I'm a hitman."

"What the hell?!" He threw his hands in the air in exasperation, but was secretly glad that through this entire experience, some things had remained the same. Reborn's crazy way of thinking, for example.

While this is all very enlightening and all, can he get to the point? Kurohana sounded annoyed. Our friend over there is getting antsy.

Retsu turned his attention to his opponent, and found that she was indeed getting ready to attack. "What do I do now?" he cried, the panic from before returning.

"Stupid Retsu," Reborn sighed, cocking his gun. The boy didn't even notice. The baby shot at his student, hitting him in the head with deadly accuracy. With any other bullet, Retsu would never have woken up. Good thing that the bullet the tutor had used hadn't been any other bullet.

For the second time that day, Retsu found himself lying on the floor, the life ebbing out of him. He dimly heard Yume's and, yes, Kurohana's cried of alarm.

What the hell does that baby think he's doing? Kurohana yelled. I thought he was on our side! Retsu, don't you dare die on us!

Hang in there! Yume joined in.

Retsu briefly wondered when all three of them had become a side, as not even a half an hour ago, Kurohana had been trying to kill him and his friends, and Yume had been out of the picture all together, but he didn't dwell on it. It felt nice, to know that someone would care if he died. To know that he'd been useful. Kurohana had even relented, and finally called him by his name.

He was struck with a thought that ruined his good mood. Did he really want to die like this? Without ever knowing what came next? He was supposed to be helping Kurohana and Yume. He wanted to get to know them better. He wanted to hang out with his friends, wanted to be able to try things he'd never done before. He wanted to be able to spend time with everyone again, to relax and know everything was alright.

He wanted to live.

A flame sprung to life on his head, burning brighter than any before it. He pushed himself to his feet, his eyes burning with passion and determination. "REBORN!" he yelled.

Unknown to him, Kurohana and Yume both felt a pulling sensation, then a strange feeling of detachment. The next thing she knew, Yume found herself floating in the air next to Kurohana, utterly bewildered. She looked down, and saw Retsu just under them. She could have touched his head if she wanted to.

What just happened? She asked.

Kurohana was smirking down at Retsu, but there was a certain softness in her eyes, one that showed she wasn't quite as heartless as she wanted everyone to believe. Yume, she began. I believe the idiot just kicked us out.

Yume gave her other half a strange look, but said nothing. When she was good and ready, Kurohana would tell her what she was thinking, and not a minute sooner. Kurohana always took things at her own pace, and hated to be rushed.

"With my dying will," she heard Retsu start. Both girls looked down. "I'll protect our future."


I bet some of you guys thought that was going to be a rebuke bullet. I considered it briefly, but decided against it. Why? Because, as much as I like the rebuke bullet better, I want it to come with a new item, which I haven't introduced yet. So you'll just have to wait. The time may come sooner than you think.